Michelle & Tony Soter

Tony and Michelle Soter share an uncompromised commitment to quality and an ardent reverence for the environment. Working together, they consistently produce wines of the highest caliber in a way that treads softly on the earth.

Michelle & Tony Soter

Tony and Michelle Soter share an uncompromised commitment to their ideals in managing their business and Mineral Springs Ranch. Working together they consistently produce wines of the highest caliber in a way that treads softly on the earth. Their ideals are conveyed through respectful farming and craftsmanship that allow a unique voice to emerge from these ancient soils and temperate climate. After years of diligence, the Soters continue to be mindful stewards of the land and are dedicated to providing an unrivaled workplace, sustaining a compassionate team that makes Soter Vineyards what it is today.

Tony Soter has demonstrated a genius in crafting award winning wine over his four decades of innovative winegrowing; A dedication and reverence to the purity and intrinsic nature of the craft; a mastery is revealed in his artful ability to allow the character of the place to resonate in the wines; a reflection of both the land and the hand.

Michelle Soter has over 20 years of advertising and marketing experience. However, it is her ardent and abiding convictions in environmentalism, organics, biodynamics, nutrition and holistic living that are spearheading Mineral Springs Ranch, creating an environment of possibilities.

James Cahill

James Cahill came to Soter Vineyards as Associate Winemaker in 2002 and is now a partner and Winemaker in our North Valley project. His commitment to the study of wine embodies the essence of our winemaking philosophy.

James Cahill

James Cahill left high school (in Connecticut) a year early to enter the prestigious Jazz Studies program at the North Texas State University. After a couple years of study in Denton, he made a weekend trip down to Austin where it became painfully clear to him that he had been missing all the fun. He packed his bags, moved to Austin, enrolled at the University of Texas and never looked back. It was in Austin that James developed a passion for fine wine and while working at the Austin Wine Merchant (a Burgundy specialist) the owner and generous clientele introduced James to the greatest wines in the world: Roumier, Claude Dugat, Dujac, Niellon and Raveneau were among the vinous epiphanies. Over a period of years, he had the opportunity to travel around Europe visiting vineyards with several wine importers including Kermit Lynch and Robert Kacher.

In fact, it was Bobby Kacher who arranged a harvest position for James at Beaux Freres. The harvest job turned in to a full time position and owner/winemaker Mike Etzel became his mentor. First as assistant winemaker and then Director of Operations, James enjoyed years of work in the cellar and vineyard. This included the development and planting of the Upper Terraces. He and his wife Marie lived at the Beaux Freres Vineyard for almost 5 years and their two sons, Ehren and Douglas Ryan, were born there. In 2001 James was appointed Vineyard Manager and Co-winemaker at Elk Cove where he worked on the development of Mount Richmond Vineyard and transitioned some of the winery’s older vineyard sites to organic farming.

The opportunity to work with Tony and Michelle at Beacon Hill would prove irresistible and in 2002 James signed on as Associate Winemaker for Soter Vineyards. He and Tony crafted lovely Pinot Noir and developed the Sparkling wine program at the Estate. It is worth mentioning that James’ first interview with Tony was at the Mineral Springs address; the vineyard had not been planted but the site clearly had tremendous potential. Along with the development of the Mineral Springs Ranch there were also ambitions to explore vineyards beyond the Estate. These ambitions inspired the creation of the North Valley brand and partnership.

James is a veteran of 20 harvest seasons in Oregon. He and North Valley partner Brian Sypher are very proud of the diversity and quality of the vineyard sites that they work with and are confident that their best work is ahead of them.

Chris Fladwood

With a BS in Viticulture and Enology from Washington State University, Chris Fladwood is a native of the Pacific Northwest and a devoted student of the varietals that thrive here. Focus and precision are a hallmark of his work and our wines a reflection of a relentless commitment to his craft.

Chris Fladwood

More information soon.

Michelle & Tony Soter

Tony and Michelle Soter share an uncompromised commitment to quality and an ardent reverence for the environment. Working together, they consistently produce wines of the highest caliber in a way that treads softly on the earth.

Michelle & Tony Soter

Tony and Michelle Soter share an uncompromised commitment to their ideals in managing their business and Mineral Springs Ranch. Working together they consistently produce wines of the highest caliber in a way that treads softly on the earth. Their ideals are conveyed through respectful farming and craftsmanship that allow a unique voice to emerge from these ancient soils and temperate climate. After years of diligence, the Soters continue to be mindful stewards of the land and are dedicated to providing an unrivaled workplace, sustaining a compassionate team that makes Soter Vineyards what it is today.

Tony Soter has demonstrated a genius in crafting award winning wine over his four decades of innovative winegrowing; A dedication and reverence to the purity and intrinsic nature of the craft; a mastery is revealed in his artful ability to allow the character of the place to resonate in the wines; a reflection of both the land and the hand.

Michelle Soter has over 20 years of advertising and marketing experience. However, it is her ardent and abiding convictions in environmentalism, organics, biodynamics, nutrition and holistic living that are spearheading Mineral Springs Ranch, creating an environment of possibilities.

James Cahill

James Cahill came to Soter Vineyards as Associate Winemaker in 2002 and is now a partner and Winemaker in our North Valley project. His commitment to the study of wine embodies the essence of our winemaking philosophy.

James Cahill

James Cahill left high school (in Connecticut) a year early to enter the prestigious Jazz Studies program at the North Texas State University. After a couple years of study in Denton, he made a weekend trip down to Austin where it became painfully clear to him that he had been missing all the fun. He packed his bags, moved to Austin, enrolled at the University of Texas and never looked back. It was in Austin that James developed a passion for fine wine and while working at the Austin Wine Merchant (a Burgundy specialist) the owner and generous clientele introduced James to the greatest wines in the world: Roumier, Claude Dugat, Dujac, Niellon and Raveneau were among the vinous epiphanies. Over a period of years, he had the opportunity to travel around Europe visiting vineyards with several wine importers including Kermit Lynch and Robert Kacher.

In fact, it was Bobby Kacher who arranged a harvest position for James at Beaux Freres. The harvest job turned in to a full time position and owner/winemaker Mike Etzel became his mentor. First as assistant winemaker and then Director of Operations, James enjoyed years of work in the cellar and vineyard. This included the development and planting of the Upper Terraces. He and his wife Marie lived at the Beaux Freres Vineyard for almost 5 years and their two sons, Ehren and Douglas Ryan, were born there. In 2001 James was appointed Vineyard Manager and Co-winemaker at Elk Cove where he worked on the development of Mount Richmond Vineyard and transitioned some of the winery’s older vineyard sites to organic farming.

The opportunity to work with Tony and Michelle at Beacon Hill would prove irresistible and in 2002 James signed on as Associate Winemaker for Soter Vineyards. He and Tony crafted lovely Pinot Noir and developed the Sparkling wine program at the Estate. It is worth mentioning that James’ first interview with Tony was at the Mineral Springs address; the vineyard had not been planted but the site clearly had tremendous potential. Along with the development of the Mineral Springs Ranch there were also ambitions to explore vineyards beyond the Estate. These ambitions inspired the creation of the North Valley brand and partnership.

James is a veteran of 20 harvest seasons in Oregon. He and North Valley partner Brian Sypher are very proud of the diversity and quality of the vineyard sites that they work with and are confident that their best work is ahead of them.

Chris Fladwood

With a BS in Viticulture and Enology from Washington State University, Chris Fladwood is a native of the Pacific Northwest and a devoted student of the varietals that thrive here. Focus and precision are a hallmark of his work and our wines a reflection of a relentless commitment to his craft.